Worker Fired For Thefts

DIGEST

BOYNTON BEACH — A janitor for the city has been fired after a hidden camera captured her stealing money from a desk drawer after regular working hours.

Linda Austin, 43, confessed to stealing from the Finance Department for several months, police said on Tuesday.

"Because this was ... an ongoing habit, which the video clearly shows, I cannot see how any department would feel comfortable or trust her in their area," Robert Eichorst, public works director, wrote in a memo to City Manager Carrie Parker. Eichorst sought help from police after employees in the Finance Department complained of thefts of money from their desk drawers and food at night.

"Although the amounts taken are trivial, the staff found it troubling enough to leave notes behind asking that their change not be taken," Sgt. John Smith wrote in a memo.

The tape showed that at 4:28 a.m. on April 15, when Austin went to do her regular duties in the department, she took what appeared to be money from a desk and put it in her pocket, an internal investigation report stated. She then repeated her action at two more desks, according to the report.

"Once she completed taking items out of the desk, she removed food from another area and sat down to relax and eat," Eichorst wrote.

Austin had been an employee with the city since January 1990.

FOR THE RECORD - ******CORRECTION PUBLISHED Thursday, April 28, 1994:******Because of a reporting error, a story on page 3B of Wednesday's paper incorrectly stated the employment status of a Boynton Beach janitor.Linda Austin is awaiting a pre-termination hearing after her supervisor recommended she be fired for violating city policy. She has since been assigned to another department.We regret the error.